Klein Constantia: stellar whites, sweet and dry 
Marqués de Riscal: Gehry hotel outshining solid Rioja and Rueda 
La Rioja Alta: benchmark classical Riojas especially top flight Gran Reservas 
Marqués de Murrieta: Rioja aristocracy built around Castillo Ygay 
CVNE: Combining volume and classical quality 
Contino: Château-style Rioja and Graciano pioneers Italy
375. Bolla, Le Poiane Valpolicella Classico Superiore Ripasso, 2004
So I was debating what should be the last entry in Book 2 – something grand? Something famous? Then I just went for something …
369. Vicchiomaggio, Il Santo di Vicchiomaggio, NV
Mum brought this back from visiting the estate in Chianti. I’m still not sure exactly what this wine is… there’s no obvious DOC-type label. …
361. Castello di Ama, Chianti Classico, 2004
Christian and I grabbed this when having a working dinner at Pearl. In spite of this being the 2004 rather than the advertised 2003, …
353. Ronco del Gnemiz, Sauvignon Sol Colli Orientali del Fruili, 2004
So, this opened the Planet of the Grapes food & wine matching night (well, after the excellent unfortified Fino), that happened to coincide with …
329. Mannucci Droandi, Chianti Colli Aretini, 2005
This one is well out of time order because it took some time to finish the bottle and get to the label! This wasn’t …
328. Cantina Tramin, Gewürztraminer Nussbaumer Alto Adige, 2005
Picked this up at Peck in Milan whilst on a business trip – what a wine cellar that shop has (though not cheap)! Not …
327. Pio Cesare, Barbera d’Alba, 2004
Number 4 from the Optimor case, and a very nice one too – for drinking not keeping. I reckon (surprisingly) that this one would …
326. Caldora, Pecorino Colle dei Venti IGT Terre de Chieti, 2005
So, the next from the Optimor Wine Club case AND it satisfied my New Year’s Resolution. And a great find – a good recommendation …
325. Antinori, Tignanello IGT Toscana, 2003
And this was the 8th and last wine in the POTG blind tasting. I completely missed this one – it was soft, yet had …
320. La Poderina, Brunello di Montalcino, 2000
Well this was the highlight of an otherwise poor pre-conference dinner in (of all places!) Milan. Unfortunately it didn’t match too well to the …